Bluesfest gets a Lotus Palace

NOT content with simply announcing major new acts, the organisers of this year's Bluesfest have announced a whole new venue within the festival.

This year's festival will, for the first time, include The Lotus Palace, which will be cunningly disguised as a large tent and will feature the likes of Christine Anu and Tjupurru, as well as local acts and talented performers from the Cape Byron Steiner, Byron High , and Kadina High schools.

In a statement, festival organisers said The Lotus Palace would also be the venue for the launch of this year's Boomerang multi-arts festival.

Boomerang, created by respected Bundjalung journalist Rhoda Roberts and the Bluesmeister himself, Peter Noble, is planned to be held at the Tyagerah Bluesfest site from October 4-6.